An ecological approach. The infodemic, pandemic, and COVID-19

This contribution aims at focusing on the notion of infodemic, as it has widely been used by International and Supranational institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. For media and communication studies the analysis of the concept and its evolution is interesting from two points of view: firstly, because it allows us to question its theoretical heuristic value and secondly because it enables us to grasp a changing media ecosystem, characterised by the strong presence of social platforms. The work is divided into three parts: the first and the third describe two different stages in the use of the term infodemic by three international and supranational institutions such as the World Health Organisation, the United Nations and the European Union. The second part presents an “oriented” literature review of the platforms, analyzing the mid-term evolutions in the use of the term. The conclusions aims to assume that the turning point in the notion of infodemic is likely to be on the one hand the confirmation of the central importance acquired by platforms in the field of communication and media, on the other hand an entry point into a new season for the democratic governance of public sphere.